Excellence recognized at MMDA celebration

The Vickar Auto Group management team presents cheque for $15,300 to the CancerCare Manitoba Foundation.

Auto dealers are singing the praises of the Manitoba Motor Dealers Association's first annual industry celebration, which took place on Nov. 13, at the Metropolitan Entertainment Centre in downtown Winnipeg.

"I loved it," said Crown Acura general manager Kirk Cancilla. "It was great seeing colleagues in a social setting and chit-chatting about how things are going."

Added Jeff Bachalo, Woodhaven Lexus Toyota GM: "The event was well attended and there was a lot of opportunity for networking."

Also at the event, Randy Ritchot, Woodhaven Lexus Toyota's assistant parts manager, received the inaugural Award of Safety Excellence, a joint venture of the MMDA and consultants 1Life Workplace Safety & Health.

"The aim of the award is to recognize and celebrate achievement by individuals within the MMDA Industry, and to raise awareness of the impact of effective safety management on business and employees alike," said 1Life president Theo Heineman, adding Ritchot has been one of the first in the industry to promote workplace health and safety, she added.

Jenna Jeffrey, whose father David works for Vickar Chevrolet, received the Gerald Rewucki Scholarship. A graduate of Murdock MacKay Collegiate, she is currently enrolled in the University of Manitoba's Bachelor of Commerce program and worked at Vickar part-time in 2011 and 2012.

MMDA executive director Geoff Sine said he was very pleased with how the social event turned out. "We sold over 260 tickets for the evening. We may do some tweaking for next year, but the most important thing is that everybody had a good time."

CARS store moves to Pembina Highway

There's a new pre-owned auto dealer on Pembina Highway.

Terry Smith has relocated his CARS With a Difference store to the former Gerry Gordon Mazda site at 550 Pembina Highway. (The Mazda store is now at the Waverley Mall.)

"Where we were before (on McGillivray west of Kenaston) was too large for our needs," Smith said. "We had more than 16 acres. I had initially thought that I might try and develop it, but it would have involved more effort than I was willing to put in."

Smith has a long and respected track record as president of Boyd Autobody. About two years ago, he and partner Mark Bychkowsky opened CARS in a small storefront on Portage close to the Perimeter Mighway. They moved to the McGillivray location just over a year ago.

"I had put the property up for sale," Smith said. "The purchaser had also bought Gerry Gordon's building. He offered to lease it to me. I like the facility and the location. Pembina Highway has one of the highest traffic flows in the city."

Vickar raises $15,300 for CancerCare Manitoba

From Oct. 21-31, the Vickar Auto Group earmarked up to $100 from every vehicle sold toward CancerCare Manitoba Foundation. On Nov. 13, the Vickar management team presented a cheque for $15,300 to Annitta Stenning, the foundation's executive director, and Ido Albo, chair of the Guardian Angel Benefit Committee for Women's Cancer.

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